Food, family and memories are as intertwined in the South as if woven on the same thread. At any function we attend, from a party to a wedding to a funeral, we are as likely to talk as much about the food that was there, as we are about why we are gathered. ~Mary Foreman

I'm your cook, not your doctor. ~PAULA DEEN

I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends. ~Ninny Threadgoode

Saturday, April 21, 2012

This super easy method of steaming corn uses un-husked corn, cooked in your microwave, and results in a clean cob with no silk left behind, and corn that is tender-crisp and ready to eat! Includes video.

Microwave Steamed Corn

Let me repeat that. Fresh, steamed, hot corn on the cob, ready to eat, with no, that's ZERO husking at all, about 4 minutes per ear (depending on your microwave), and you do not have to deal with those pesky silks that are impossible to get off! You will have a clean cob with no work, and no silks. Okay... you might find like one single stray silk that stuck to the cob, but that will be about it. Seriously.

I know!

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't just done it myself. A couple times actually thanks to snatching some fresh Florida corn at my local Winn Dixie - 10 ears for three bucks. Couldn't pass that up. It went perfect with those gorgeous, hot and spicy crawfish we picked up at my local fish monger, Quality Seafood, the place I buy my seafood from when my hunter-gatherer doesn't bring it home to me. Mercy those were some great crawfish.

I first heard about this last year when a reader sent me a link to the video embedded below, but then forgot about it until it was sent to me again this year. I admit. I was certainly skeptical, but I shared it on the Facebook page, several of us have tried it and I'll be the dickens. It really does work y'all!

I do have to say that mine didn't quite shake out so easily like his did. I had to sort of coax it out a little bit by squeezing it from the bottom, kinda like you would with a frozen ice pop. The fella in the video has four ears of corn out but only does two at a time, so most of us have only done one or two ears at a time. Nobody has ventured out into doing say a half dozen of them all at once, so if you happen to try it, please let us know.

Here's how simple this is. Take your one or two ears of un-husked corn just as you buy them from the store - don't do a thing to them - and place them into the microwave, setting it on high for about 4 minutes per ear. The actual time will be dependent on the power of your own microwave. My microwave is small and not very powerful, so I went for 5 minutes for one ear, for my microwave 6 minutes is even better.

After it has finished cooking, use heavy oven mitts or some Ove gloves to remove it from the microwave and hack off the larger end of the cob with a sharp serrated knife. Remember this is very hot corn, so use your gloves while handling.

And then just shake it out of the husk. Or, if you're like me, I had to squeeze it out, and just grip it as it comes out with the other oven glove, or gently coax it out with a pair of tongs. If it doesn't release fairly easily out of the husk either by shaking or pulling, then it probably should go a little longer, so add a minute each time you do another ear until you get the perfect ear and learn the timing for the power level of your microwave.

This is how it looks when you get it out of the husk. Is that not just crazy or what? It is literally a clean cob. I found one very tiny strand of silk on this piece. That is it!

Just in case you don't believe me - check this close up out. Gorgeous and no silk!

And, as if that's not crazy-easy enough, this corn is beautifully steamed and completely ready to eat. It is tender-crisp, with a nice bite, and just perfect. Just add butter and salt, or whatever you want and consume, or let it cool a bit then cut it off the cob for some fresh corn to add to any dish where you'd normally use frozen or canned. Delish. Easy. Gotta love it!

Seems silly, but for the purposes of saving this to your recipe box, here's the "recipe!"

Recipe: Fresh Hot Corn on the Cob in (about) 4 minutes, No Husking, No Silks

Take your one or two ears of un-husked corn just as you buy them from the store - don't do a thing to them - and place them into the microwave, setting it on high for about 4 minutes per ear. The actual time will be dependent on the power of your own microwave. My microwave is small and not very powerful, so I went for 5 minutes for one ear, for my microwave 6 minutes is even better.

After it has finished cooking, use heavy oven mitts or some Ove gloves to remove it from the microwave and hack off the larger end of the cob with a sharp serrated knife. Remember this is very hot corn, so use your gloves while handling.

And then just shake it out of the husk. Or, if you're like me, I had to squeeze it out, and just grip it as it comes out with the other oven glove, or gently coax it out with a pair of tongs. If it doesn't release fairly easily out of the husk either by shaking or pulling, then it probably should go a little longer, so add a minute each time you do another ear until you get the perfect ear and learn the timing for the power level of your microwave.

By the way, here's the quick video ... WARNING: Very loud banjo music starts off this video, so turn your volume down a bit before viewing! (Update - last I checked, the sound was completely out on this video. I'm gonna leave it up though, just in case they get that corrected!)

☛ Oven Roasted "No Husk" Corn

This same method can be done right in your oven too. Place unshucked corn in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 25-30 minutes. Use pot holders to hold the corn and cut off the larger end. Shake the corn out of the husk and serve. You may also leave the husks on and simply fold them back as handles for holding.

For many more ways to cook corn on the cob, pop by this post 'How to Cook Corn on the Cob' and be sure to check out the compound butter blends too!

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Hi Rachel - if you're looking for proper grammar/English/context/definitions then you're in the wrong spot so just relax when you come here, enjoy the content and I promise you might have a good time. Thanks for stopping by!

I think you are correct! But then some folks who don't live in the south throw away the greens from a turnip and felt.at least in the past, that our field peas to be worthless and nothing more than animal feed! :)

Oh yeah - I'd forgotten about that! I've never done it but it seems a neat trick for when you have a big BBQ and need to do a lot of corn, though I do remember reading some cautions about it on snopes.com.

That is so cool and after enjoying corn on the cob (my favorite way to eat it) for 60 years, I can't believe this is just now showing up. I should have corn in about 6 weeks and will definitely try this. Of course I'll still have to open the top of mine a little to knock out the usual worm, but it should still work as long as I grab the silk tops.

I have been doing my corn in the microwave for about a year now, I've had some comments asking why I don't do it the "better/longer" way but it's so simple and yummy I don't see the point in putting myself through the trouble of boiling when this is just as good!

And truly, better if you ask me - besides that, variety is the spice of life right? I like corn all kinds of ways but this is a great replacement for boiling or steaming. Much easier, much faster, less hassle and the corn is just about as delicious as it could be! I got a link to that fella's video last year, but had completely forgotten about it until it was sent to me again this year. Loving this method!!

I had two cobs to cook one day and did it in the microwave because of shear laziness on my part and voila - beautiful corn! If I have more than 2-3 ears, I roast in the oven in its husks and it comes out just as clean. Takes a bit longer...about 30-40 minutes at 350-degrees.

LOL Paula, yeah, microwave "cooking" wasn't the best was it? Really you've been cooking it in the husk like this for 30 years? I do remember my old carousel cookbook talking about pulling the husks back but you still had to remove the silks, then replace the husks before microwaving. Not like this where you just stick in the whole cob without having to clean the silks first. I've cooked my corn in the microwave too for years, but not like this! I never even considered not removing the silks which really makes this entire process kinda revolutionary!! Throw in a whole corn, husks and all, and voila, done & no silks to clean. I'm so glad that I learned this method - it's fantastic not having to try to remove all the silks first, and the corn is delicious!!

Boy, I'm glad you posted this method of cooking corn on the cob before I spent the whole summer on the back porch husking corn! We tried it this evening at supper and it was perfect...it's going to be so nice (and cooler) this summer to not have to boil a big pot of water and get the kitchen all clammy and steamy.

Isn't it just crazy?!! I love corn all ways, but I especially love it just plain ole boiled with salt and butter the most. This method eliminates the hassle of all that cleaning & all the mess & to top it off, it's faster - I for one was thrilled to discover it!!

I have used this technique also but for large baatches of corn I put a dozen ears of corn still in the husks in a 350 oven for 20-25 mins and then just cut the bottoms off and shake them out. easy peasy

Thanks for letting me know about the oven tip! I'm going to cook 6 ears tonight. It's not really a large batch, but I don't feel like doing only 2 at a time in the microwave, and I'm not feeling experimental today. :)

I cannot believe how easy it is to cook the corn this way..I have cooked 4 ears at a time..4 min each= 16 min...came out GREAT!! I found that if the ear won't shake out I probably have not cut all the husks off the ear.. Thank you for your blog..found it on pinterest...Barb

Hi Barb! I know ... is that not just crazy?! When I saw this video & finally got around to trying it, I couldn't believe it! Sure beats all that husking and boiling business. Thanks so much for stopping back by and leaving a comment. I appreciate that so much. And welcome to the family!!

Isn't it crazy? Since it's just the two of us at home now this is the way I cook it now. I'm not the biggest fan of grilled corn, but I tried some the other day using this method and then just finishing it by charring it on the grill when I cooked steaks. Pretty good, though I still think I like it best right out of the microwave!

Thank you for sharing! I haven't had the opportunity to do that many so I hadn't experimented with it. So you put all dozen ears in all at once then? I don't think my turntable could handle that many but it's sure nice to know it still works!

My wife has been microwaving corn (and other veggie) for a few years now. I usually have to shuck it and she would nuke it.

THIS is the coolest thing since sliced bread lol. I am NEVER shucking an ear of corn again. Thanks. Does it work the same for roasting corn (never roasted corn before but thought I might try it.

BTW I found a version with sound. Here is the addy, but you'll have to do whatever it is you do to embed it. Looks like MOST of the versions I could find had no sound. I thought it was just me.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7veSB257fQE

Isn't it crazy?! I love using this method now. Heck, I made some creamed corn from the cob and instead of cooking it raw, I precooked it in the mike using this method while I did something else and then finished it in the skillet. Thanks for the link. I think he tried to edit out the very loud banjo music from before and somehow lost the sound! I'll have to try to remember to come back to embed it later. :)

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